Visit Lauderdale Scores Major Win with Premier Youth Basketball Tournament

Balling on the Beach, a premier youth basketball tournament, will bring more than 500 basketball teams to the Broward County Convention Center June 16-18, 2023. Visit Lauderdale and the Broward County Convention Center partnered with Iconic Creative Agency to host this elite amateur showcase.

Since its inception in 2018, Balling on the Beach has transformed into one of the nation’s most prestigious amateur basketball tournaments, featuring teams from 1^st through 11^th grade. The tournament has rapidly grown to over 500 teams, with more than 300 teams on a waiting list. For this weekend’s event, 39 basketball courts will be laid in the 350,000 square foot exhibition hall at the Broward County Convention Center. And according to Visit Lauderdale’s Vice President of Sports & Entertainment Glen Allen, it couldn’t have come at a better time.

“With our convention center currently undergoing a $1.3 billion expansion, it’s the ideal time for Broward County to host a tournament of this caliber,” said Allen. Noting that the area’s 300+ miles of navigable waterways that surround the convention center provide “a brilliant backdrop.”

Phase one of the convention center renovation opened in 2021, with an expanded 800,000 square-foot center, including the exhibit space. “And there’s still more to come,” said Allen, referring to additional renovations that have yet to be completed.

“Some of the highlights will include a 65,000 square-foot waterfront ballroom, enhanced water taxi access, a new, expansive waterfront plaza with dining and entertainment in a park-like atmosphere and an 801-room Omni Fort Lauderdale Hotel which connects to the convention center,” he said.

Balling on the Beach features the top AAU teams from across the country, with over 90% of the teams coming from outside of South Florida. Top teams like NY Gauchos, Team Durant, Rondo Elite, Black Ops. Team Trae Young, and Austin Rivers Elite will be competing this weekend. And according to Glen Allen, Visit Lauderdale’s Vice President of Sports & Entertainment, the event will give the area a tremendous tourism boost.

“This event will attract more than 5,000 participants and over 10,000 accompanying family members and spectators,” said Allen, noting that the massive influx of out-of-county visitors is expected to provide an immense tourism boost. 

“Visit Lauderdale is excited to welcome back Balling on the Beach to Broward County,” said Allen. “With over 500 youth basketball teams traveling to our area, there will be a significant rise in direct visitor spending across the entire county as over 40 hotels are being used.”